15 Cheapest Places to Live in California That Are Up-And-Coming

California is one of the more expensive cities in the USA. It is a great city to live and work in but the cost of living can be worrying. Thankfully there are many affordable places to live in California. A list of the cheapest places to live in California would be helpful for those who want to live in California on a budget. The cheapest cities in California that are desirable to live in are listed here.

Why look for the Cheapest Places to Live in California?

California is known for different things. The beaches, the mountains, and the amazing weather are what come to mind. California is also famous as being the tech capital of the US and also of the world thanks to the large number of tech companies located here.

America’s largest state is also the most expensive to stay in. Living in the Golden State can be expensive. But staying in this state can help you pursue great career options. You need to look for the best affordable places to live in California so you can live within your budget.

There are many cheapest places to live in California that allow you to manage your cost of living effectively. These affordable places to live in California are up and coming, They are trendy places to live in. You can live here and commute to your place of work and enjoy all that the state has to offer.

Finding the Cheapest Places to Live in California

When you are looking for the cheapest places to live in California, you need to be aware of how to find these places. You can find the cheapest places to live in California based on certain criteria. These criteria will help you rank different places so you can compare them and then decide the best among the cheapest places to live in California.

Places like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and cities by the coast will naturally not be on the list of cheapest places to live in California. These cities are the most expensive. There are many other cities that are not too far away and yet offer the best prices.

The criteria to use to decide on the cheapest places to live in California include:

There are various agencies and private websites that rank cities based on affordability and liveability. These criteria can help you decide which of the cheapest places to live in California.
The most important criterion to help you decide the cheapest places to live in California is the price of housing. The rental costs determine how affordable the place is to live in.
You need to consider the neighborhood. It must be safe and have all that you need like access to transport, shopping, entertainment, etc.
The cost of living is another important criterion to decide the cheapest places to live in California. The cost of living includes the cost of groceries, utilities, transport costs, etc.
The places also need to be happening. They should not be villages where there is nothing to see or do. They need to be up-and-coming places that have a good prospect for future growth.

To make things convenient for you, we have compiled a list of the cheapest places to live in California. Various criteria have been used to make this list.

15 Cheapest Places to Live in California

The following is a list of the 15 cheapest places to live in California. These are happening places where you can live within your budget. These places would have all that you are looking for in the perfect location for your home.

1) Avenal

The Financial World says that No. 1 in the list of cheapest places to live in California is Avenal. Avenal is located in Kings County. While the cost of living index in the entire state is 149.9, in Avenal it is 88.8. This shows that this place is a great to live and you can expect a save a lot of money every month. The average cost of a home in Avenal is $140,000, which is nearly a fifth of the California average. The rental for a two-bedroom house would be $840, which is half the average cost of rent in California. The schools in Avenal are excellent. Parks, shopping places, outdoor spaces, and transport facilities are great making this truly one of the cheapest places to live in California.

2) Ridgecrest

Ridgecrest is located in Kern County. Previously a farming community, Ridgecrest is one of the cheapest places to live in California. The overall cost of living index in Ridgecrest is 96, which is lesser than that of the state and the entire US. The city also scores very well in terms of the cost of groceries, health care, housing cost, and transportation. The average cost of a home here is $193,800, which is lesser than most places in the state. The average rent for a two-bedroom house is $1,050. All these statistics show that Ridgecrest, located in the Bakersfield Metro Area is a city to consider if you want to live in California.

3) Bakersfield

Another great city on our list of cheapest places to live in California in Bakersfield. The average price of a home in Bakersfield is $254,430 making it a great place to consider living in. Its location on the main route from Northern to Southern California makes it a great place to live in. Travel from here to other places is easy. The cost of living index is 102.6, which is considerably lesser than the California average. The city scores very well on the costs of grocery, health, transportation, and housing. If you are thinking of renting a home here, the cost would be $1,070. There are a number of neighborhoods within Bakersfield that offer more attractive options to stay at for better prices. There are lots of outdoor activities in and around Bakersfield.

4) Holtville

Holtville is one of the cheapest places to live in California that you can consider. It is near the Mexican border. The city is known as the ‘Carrot capital of the world’. It is known for having a great cost of living index. The index is 91.1, which is much lesser than the US and California averages. The affordable housing cost, grocery costs, transport, and utility costs make it a great place to live. The average home cost is $193,000. The rental cost for a two-bedroom house is just $950.

5) Oxnard

Oxnard is a beach city in Ventura County. It is an agricultural hub and is located just 38 miles away from Santa Barbara. The overall cost of living index rank is 138.5, which is still lesser compared to the California average. The costs of housing, health care, transport, and utilities are less here. The average home cost is $503,100. The cost of renting a two-bedroom house is $1,778. If you are looking for one of the cheapest places to live in California near the beach, you can consider Oxnard.

6) Rancho Cucamango

Located in between Palm Springs and LA, Ranchi Cucamango is a fast-growing city that is a great place to live. It is also one of the cheapest places to live in California. Located in a former wine-growing region, the city is known for its excellent climate with 290 days of sunshine. The city has a 2-bedroom home available for rent at $1,695. The cost of a home is $518,500 here.

7) Imperial

Imperial is one of the cheapest places to live in California that is just a two-hour drive from San Diego. Located in a desert valley, the city offers the sunny weather that the state is known for. The city’s cost of living is considerably lesser than the rest of the state. The cost of a home is $263,900. The rental cost of a two-bedroom house is $1,320. It is a great place to stay in Southern California.

8) Clearlake

Clearlake is one of the cheapest places to live in California if you wish to stay in the north of the state. It is near Napa Valley. The largest natural of the state is found here. The major attraction of this city is its cost of living. The index is 91.9, which is significantly lesser than the rest of the state. The cost of a home here is $151,300, which is what makes the city attractive. You can rent a 2-bedroom house for $960.

9) Clovis

Clovis is one of the cheapest places to live in California that is known for being safe. It is located in the Fresno area and is conveniently close to San Jose. The cost of living in Clovis is lesser compared to most places in the state. The average cost of a house in Clovis is $344,700. The transport costs of the city are also less. The cost of renting a two-bedroom house is $1,247. The city is known for its good schools.

10) Long Beach

One of the cheapest places to live in California that is known for being an active one is Long Beach. It is one of the cheapest places to live in California having the best public transportation system making it great to stay. It is a great place to stay if you want to travel quickly to LA. You can stay here comfortably on a monthly budget of around $2256. You can rent an apartment for $1,600.

11) Perris

If the idea of staying near Disneyland appeals to you, then Perris is a good choice. This is one of the cheapest places to live in California with affordable homes. The location of the city is convenient mid-way between Los Angeles and San Diego. The central location ensures you can travel anywhere in the state easily. The average cost of a home here is around $261,000. You can rent an apartment for $1,252.

12) Sacramento

The capital city of California is one of the cheapest places to live in California. According to Redfin, Sacramento is the most searched metro area in the country. It is an amazing place to stay with bustling nightlife and a lot of tech companies. It is one of the affordable places to stay in North California. If you look for a home in the outskirts of Sacramento, you should be able to get one for a rental of around $1,500. You should be able to lead a comfortable life in Sacramento with a budget of around $2,000.

13) Vacaville

Vacaville is one of the cheapest places to live in California if you love festivals. This quiet city loves its festivals and celebrates them all through the year. It is close to San Francisco making it a great place to stay. While the city may not be buzzing like the Bay area, the cost of living is a reason you should consider staying here. You can buy a home here for $354,600. The cost of renting an apartment is $1,868.

14) Livingston

One of the cheapest places to live in California in the Central Valley is Livingston. It is a small town that is known for being safe. There are many nearby towns where the residents can travel for entertainment and other options. Primarily, an agricultural town, this is a great place to stay thanks to the low cost of living. Grocery, health care, housing, and transport are lesser than other places. The average cost of a house is $253,200 and the rental for an apartment is $870.

15) Blythe

Blythe is one of the cheapest places to live in California located close to San Diego. There are a lot of millennials who stay here thanks to the affordable cost of living. The cost of living index is 94.1. The average home cost is just $152,800, which makes the place attractive to stay. If you want to rent a 2-bedroom flat, the rental is $1,050. The costs of transportation, health care, and grocery are significantly less making this a great place to stay. The town is known to have the Californian lifestyle that everyone hankers for with the cost of living in a small town.